Maybe i'm being a tad naive here but if your going to replace a mud mover with a potential high tech mud mover,shouldnt the 'stop gap' a/c be a superb example of current mud moving and a have the capability for a secondary role as a A2A missle carrier?
I.e. the Super (B)Eagle? F15R(AAF), i'm sure the Singaporeans & Korean contests were both different to our own requirements but it wouldnt hurt to operate an aircraft in line with some of our supposed allies. And who knows the RAAF may get to keep them after the lease expires and end up with a top notch F16A-B,SU-27 Killer.
Then again i guess Boeing may not be able to supply said a/c in our required price/timeline due to USAF requirements and our own Governments predilection for supplicanting themselves before the alter of Boeing/LockMart.